Falesia di Parcet - La Pancia dell'Elefante

A small crag, well bolted but the rock remains dirty, vegetated. Not recommended from a climbing point of view, but the situation is excellent

Approach # about 40mins

Drive out of La Thuile to the parking at the end of the road at La Joux. Follow the path towards Refuge Dreffeyes, past the first waterfall until you reach the clearing at “Parcet”, (small building). Continue past the clearing, underneath a very scruffy, broken slab area to where the path starts to ascend more steeply, almost level with the second waterfall. There is a signpost “Falesia di Parcet” at the start of an indistinct path with leads to the foot of the crag in 2 minutes.

Route

There are about 8 bolted routes on the crag, 5b to 6c. La Pancia dell’Elefante starts just to the right of the lowest point of the crag. (Old fixed rope in place below the first bolt.) P1 20m 5a : Climb up steeply then more easily to a chain belay behind a tree. P2 30m 5b+ : Up the front of the pillar, (scruffy in places ) to the chain belay P3 30m 5b : Follow the bolts to the top of the crag

Descent

Abseil down to the top of the second pitch. A further abseil brings you back to the start.

Though the route is in a very pleasant setting, and the line of the route aesthetically pleasing, the quality of the climbing is poor. Might improve if the route was cleaner. The crag is called “Pilastro delle Cascate del Rutor” in Mani Nude 2